It is unarguable that Microsoft power automate is a game-changing software for your business with its ability to automate numerous business tasks and help saving significant hours of routine work. There are still much more capabilities of power automate to be discovered. One interesting thing is that we can even configure to run the automation with your mobile phone, which will allow user to run the automation anywhere and anytime, providing flexibility and new functionalities over the automated solutions. In this article, we will delve into the integration of automation into mobile phone and its applications, but first we need to understand a specific type of automation called unattended mode automation in Power Automate Cloud.
In general, there are business tasks that often do not require human to interact with the software application or with the computer physically. Microsoft Power Automate offers unattended mode automation to run automated flow without having users to interact with the machine. Unattended automation refers to the execution of automated tasks, workflows, or processes without the need for human intervention or supervision, unlike attended automation which requires user to be signed-in or to manually provide inputs for the automated flow. This form of automation operates independently, scheduled or triggered by predefined conditions or events, allowing for seamless execution without constant oversight.
Unattended automation generally works best with virtual machine, where you setup another computer (e.g. robot computer) to run the automated flow in the background instead of using a user’s computer. This allows organization to efficiently allocates the resources to perform important business tasks in the most effective way. Interestingly, this type of automation can be configured to run with your mobile phone as well. To configure mobile trigger automation, user can firstly pre-build the unattended automated flow in the cloud system, and then use Power Automate mobile app or Microsoft power app to trigger the automation.
By integrating unattended automation with mobile phone, it offers various benefits such as improving flexibility of usage, where you can run the automation anywhere even though you do not have access to the local computer. It allows users to promptly take action or make decision in case of any issues found, and it also ensures accuracy and consistency in business operations, improving overall data quality and reducing the likelihood of costly mistakes made by human. Below are some of the application examples:
Financial Transactions and Approval Processes:
For financial institutions or businesses, unattended automation paired with mobile devices can streamline approval processes for transactions, invoices, or expense claims. Authorizations and approvals can be initiated or managed remotely, ensuring timely processing without delays.
Automated Reports and Data Processing:
For reporting processes, you can set up unattended automation to process data or generate reports overnight and schedule the reports to be sent via email on daily, weekly, or monthly basis, but in some cases you may need to generate an immediate report, where using your mobile phone might be a better option. You can trigger these tasks remotely to get the report at specific moment in time, regardless of location. Whether you are in a meeting, or traveling the reports will be generated with just a click from your mobile, providing you and your colleagues with updated information for quick decision-making without having to wait to get to your computer or for the scheduled time.
Remote Monitoring and Alerts:
Imagine being able to receive instant alerts on your phone about critical system updates, server issues, or security breaches, even when you’re away from your desk. With unattended automation and your mobile, you can monitor these situations in real-time and take immediate action, ensuring smooth operations without needing to be physically present.
Field Service and Operations:
In industries like field services or logistics, unattended automation combined with mobile phones allows for tasks such as inventory management, scheduling, or equipment maintenance to be managed efficiently. Field agents or workers can trigger and monitor these processes while on the move, ensuring operations run smoothly without needing to be in the office.
Scheduled Communication and Notifications:
You can schedule and automate communication tasks like sending out reminders, notifications, or updates to clients or team members. Using your mobile, you have the flexibility to trigger these messages at the right time, ensuring effective communication without being tied to your desk.
The combination of unattended automation with mobile phone is definitely one of powerful features that Microsoft Power Automate offer. It can be applied across different industries, expanding organization’s capabilities to manage tasks, monitor processes, and stay on top of critical operations, all from the convenience of your mobile device. This will ensure boost in productivity and smoother operations, regardless of your location.
Author: Siratun Rungmongkolsup, 13 Dec 2023